Box elevator



Nov. 12, 1963 G. l. N. MARVIN 3,110,390

Y ox ELEVATOR Filed Aug. 28, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 '1) INVENTOR Georgia I N Marl/in zzw law Nov. 12, 1963 G. l. N. MARVIN 3,110,390

BOX ELEVATOR Filed Aug. 28, 1961 5*SheetsSheet 2 Nov. 12, 1963 G. I. N. MARVIN 3,110,390

BOX ELEVATOR Filed Aug. 28. 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Nov. 12, 1963 G. l. N. MARVlN 3,110,390

BOX ELEVATOR Filed Aug. 28, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Nov. 12,, 1963' e. I. N. MARVIN BOX ELEVATOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed. Aug. 28', 196].

United States Patent Ofi ice 3 ,1 1%,3-9 fi Patented Nov. 12, 1963 3,110,390 EUX ELEVATOR George I. N. l /Zarvin, PA). 873, Woodland, Filed Aug. 23, 196i, Ser. No. 134,232

4 Claims. (G. TBS-M3) This invention is directed to, and it is a major object to provide, a novel power actuated box elevator adapted to aid in the loading of filled and thus relatively heavy produce boxes from the field and into the load receiving bed of a transport vehicle, such as a truck.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a box elevator, for the purpose described, which is adapted to receivefrom a worker standing on the groundthe boxes in a position substantially waist-high alongside but below the vehicle bed, and to then elevate such boxes to another position a comparable height above the vehicle bed for convenient handling and stacking by a worker standing on such bed. The device thus eliminates the necessity of tiresome manual effort otherwise required of the ground workers to lift each box up to the height of, and to place it on, the vehicle bed. Further, the device greatly facilitates the grasping of the boxes and staclc'ng of the same on the vehicle bed by the worker standing thereon.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a box elevator which is arranged to receive and elevate boxes at both sides of the vehicle bed.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a box elevator, for the purpose described, which is movable lengthwise on the vehicle bed as the loading of the boxes thereon progresses tier by tier.

A further object of the invention is to provide a box elevator which is of novel sectional frame construction, with the sections arranged for detachment from each other for compact placement and ready transport, when not in use, on the vehicle bed or other carrier.

it is also an object of the invention to provide a box elevator which is designed for simple, easy, and economical manufacture, and which device is practical, reliable, and durable.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevation of the box elevator as supported on a vehicle bed; the view showing one of the elevator units as in use.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan View of one of the elevator units and the adjacent portion of the central frame section.

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on line .,3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged outer or front elevation of one of the elevator units; the view being partly broken away.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary transverse sectional elevation taken substantially on line 55 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation show ing the upper portion of one elevator unit as detached from, but indicating the manner of connection to, the adjacent end portion of the central frame section.

Referrin now more particularly to the drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, the novel box elevator comprises an elongated central frame sec tion 1 disposed horizontally and transversely of the bed 2 of a transport vehicle, such as a truck, indicated partially and diagrammatically at 3. In the present instance the bed 2 includes removable pallets 4. on which the load is to be stacked.

The central frame section 1, which is of open construction, if of a length slightly greater than the width of bed 2, so that said frame section 1 projects a short distance and equally beyond opposite sides of said bed.

At each end the central frame section 1 is detachably connected to a vertical end frame section 5 depending alongside, and to a point a considerable distance below, the bed 2. Each end frame section 5 is included in, and provides the mount or support for, the working partshereinafter to be described-of a box elevator unit, indicated generally at s.

Each box elevator unit 6 is operative, as shown in FIG. 1, to receive-one at a time-filled produce boxes 7 at substantially waist height from a worker 8 standing on the ground, and to then elevate such boxes and deliver them onto the top or" the central frame section 1. A worker 9, standing on the bed of the vehicle, then grasps the boxes 7 from the top of the central frame section 1, and stacks them on the bed, as at 16.

In order to normally maintain the central frame section 1 in a fixed position on the bed 2, but permitting of adustment of said frame section along the bed as the stacking of the boxes 7 progresses tier by tier, thefollowing arrangement is provided:

At each end, and on the bottom, the central frame section it is provided with a pair of spaced, relatively long roflers ll which extend transversely of such bed; each set or pair of such rollers normal-1y being held against turning by a braking or locking unit, indicated generally at 12.

Each such locking unit 12 comprises a pair of holding bars 13 disposed in end to end alinement transversely of the central frame section 1 beneath the latter; such bars 13 spanning corresponding rollers 11, with the outer end portion of each bar engaged in a downwardly opening saddle 14. At adjacent ends, which are spaced apart, the holding bars 13 are connectedthrough the medium of loose-play pins 15by a link 16. The link 16 and consequently the holding 'bars 13 are normally urged downwardly, whereby the bars bear tightly against the top of the rollers 11, preventing turning of the latter.

Such downward urging of the link 16 is accomplished by means of a radial lever arm 17 fixed on a cross shaft 13 journaled in the central frame section 1. At one end the cross shaft 13 is fitted with an upstanding radial lever arm 19 normally urged by a tension spring 20 in a direction tending to turn the cross shaft 18 in a manner to swing the lever arm 17 downwardly; thus imposing the desired force on the link 16 to maintain the locking unit 12 operative.

When it is desired to release the locking units 12 so that the central frame section 1 may be moved along the bed 2 on the rollers 11, such releaseof both locking units 12 simultaneously-is accomplished by means of a double-ended bellcrank hand lever 21 pivoted on one side of the central frame section 1 intermediate its ends, with opposed pull rods 22 extending from such hand lever 21 to the upper ends of the radial lever arms 19. Thus,

by swinging the hand lever 21 in a given direction, the lever arms 19 are both simultaneously moved in a direc tion such that the cross shaft 18 rotates to swing the radial lever arm 17 upwardly, lifting the link 16 and relieving the holding bars 13 from locking or binding engagament with the rollers ll. Upon hand release of the lever 21 the springs 2t} automatically re-set the locking units 12.

The end frame section 5, as included in each elevator unit 6, is detachably suspended from the adjacent end of the central frame section 1 by upper and lower pairs of transversely spaced hooks 23 fixed on such end of the central frame section, with corresponding upper and lower cross bars 2.on the back of the end frame section 5- removably engaged in such hooks (see particularly FIGS. 3 and 6). With this arrangement each elevator unit 6 is readily engaged and suspended, or disengaged and removed, from the central frame section 1; handles 25 on opposite sides of each end frame section making possible the convenient handling of each elevator unit 6 during attachment to or detachment from the central frame section 1.

As the elevator units 6 are identical-except for being right and left hand-a description of one will suffice for both; each such unit being constructed and functioning as follows:

The end frame section 5 of each elevator unit 6 is of skeleton construction and open both at the top and front; the front being considered to be that part of the end frame ection 5 laterally outermost from the bed 2.

Within the end frame section 5, and closely adjacent but spaced from each side thereof, there is an endless elevator chain, indicated generally at 26, trained for travel in a vertically elongated rectangular path, which path is disposed in a transverse vertical plane relative to the bed 2. The endless elevator chains 2e are in alinement crosswise of the end frame section 5.

Each endless elevator chain 26 includes an upwardly traveling front run 27, a parallel downwardly traveling rear run 25, a top cross run 29, and a bottom cross run 38; such chain being carried, at the turns, on upper sprockets 31 and 32 and lower sprockets 33 and 34. All of such sprockets are suitably journaled in connection with the end frame section 5, as shown.

The upper corner sprockets 32 are driven from a cross shaft 35 by means of relatively short endless chain and sprocket units 36.

The cross shaft 35 is driven, so as to cause the chain runs 27 to travel upwardly and the chain runs 28 to travel downwardly, in the manner as hereinafter described.

A plurality of swingably suspended, box receiving cradles, indicated generally at 37, span horizontally between the endless elevator chains 26 at spaced points in the length thereof; each such box receiving cradle 37 including upstanding end plates 38 pivotally connected adjacent the top to the related chains 26, as at 39. In addition each box receiving cradle 37 includes foot plates 45 projecting laterally inwardly from the lower edges of the end plates 38, and at their rear ends the foot plates 40 of each cradle 37 are connected by a tie rod 41.

Another endless elevator chain 42, identical to the elevator chains 26, is disposed centrally between the latter but in somewhat downwardly as well as rearwardly offset relation. The central, endless elevator chain 42 is trained for travel in a vertically elongated rectangular path the same as the chains 26, but in the foregoing offset relation, by means of upper corner sprockets 43 and 44 and lower corner sprockets 45 and 4-6. t

The upper corner sprocket 43 is carried on the cross shaft 35 and drives the central, endless elevator chain 42 in the same direction and at the same speed as the endless elevator chains 26; the corner sprockets 44, 45, and 46 being suitably journaled in the end frame section 5 as shown. The central, endless elevator chain 42 is turnably connected to the tie rod 41 of each box receiving cradle 37, as at 47.

With the endless elevator chains 26 and 4-2 all 1raveling in unison and at the same speed, the box receiving cradles 37 are carried-in progression-upwardly at the front of each elevator unit 6, traverse the top thereof in a rearward direction, travel downwardly at the back of such unit, and thence traverse the bottom in a forward direction and back to the starting point.

By reason of the central elevator chain 42 disposed as described, and running in unison with and at the same speed as the elevator chains 26, the box receiving cradles 37with the tie rods 41 attached to said chain 42 as at 47are maintained in a horizontal position at all times.

The upper corner sprocket 44 of the central endless elevator chain 42 is carried on a suitable journaled, relatively short, double-ended cross shaft 48 whose ends are free and which are fitted with toothed wheels 49 of substantially the same diameter or slightly larger than that of the sprocket 44. As so mounted the toothed wheels 49 turn, at the top, in the direction of the central frame section 1.

The cross shaft 35 of each elevator unit 6 is driven in the following manner:

A sprocket 59 is fixed on one end portion of the cross shaft 35 outwardly of the corresponding endless chain and sprock t unit 36, and such sprocket 51} is driven by an endless chain 51 from a sprocket 52 on one end of a cross shaft 53 journaled in the near end portion and adjacent the top of the central frame section 1.

The cross shaft 53, adjacent but between the sides of said central frame section 1, is fitted with a pair of spaced pulleys, indicated at 5- and 55. The pulley 54 is driven by an endless belt 56 from a gas engine 57 mounted in the central frame section 1 substantially centrally of its ends; such gas engine being of a type which includes a unitary clutch (not shown). The pulley 54 and the pulley 55 are of equal diameter, and which is sufficient so that the top portions of such pulleys extend somewhat above the horizontal plane of the top of the central frame section 1. The pulley 55 is provided with a tight fitting or surrounding belt 58 to provide such pulley with a peripheral friction surface corresponding to the friction surface provided on the pulley 54 by the endless belt 56.

The endless chain 51 is normally maintained taut by a spring-urged chain tightener 59 which includes a sprocket 69 running in engagement with such endless chain 51. By reason of the inclusion of the chain tightener 59 the endless chain 51 can be readily disconnected from the sprocket 52 when each elevator unit 6 is detached from the central frame section 1 for transport of the device.

When the endless chain 51 is detached from the sprocket 52 the slack in such chain is mainly taken up by the chain tightener 59, with the chain remaining engaged with the sprocket 60 (see FIG. 6).

In operation of the described box elevator, and by reference to one of the elevator units 6, the worker 8- standing on the groundlifts each filled produce box 7 to only substantially waist height and then places such box on a horizontal platform 61 which projects outwardly from the front and adjacent the lower end of such unit.

The platform 61 includes parallel, inwardly extending box supporting bars 62 spaced apart in parallel, but with the spacing less than that of the foot plates 40 of the box receiving cradles 37; this to the end that such cradles may each rise toward and pass the box support bars 62 without interference.

Outwardly of the upward path of the box receiving cradles 37 the support bars 62 are fitted with rollers 63 that project above such bars. Upon placement of each box 7 on the platform 61, and advance of such box on the support bars 62as aided by the rollers 63the box is readily disposed in a position for pick-up by the next cradle 37 to start its upward travel.

As each such cradle rises it picks up, on the foot plates 40, the box 7 positioned as above, and then carries such box to the top of the elevator unit; thence moves said box rearwardly in the direction of the central box section l; and then begins to lower said box. As the box begins to lower it comes to rest on the top run of the central endless elevator chain 42, as well as on the top of the toothed wheels 49. As both are traveling in the direction of the central frame section 1 the box is forcefully shifted or advanced in such direction, being then engaged by the tops of the pulleys 54 and 55 likewise turning in the same direction; such pulleys, by reason of the friction surfaces at the tops thereof, further advancing the box until it is discharged onto said central frame section 1. The worker 9, standing on the bed 2, then lifts each box off of the central frame section 1 and stacks the box in the manner previously described.

Thus, each elev-ator unit 6 is operative to receive a filled produce box at substantially the waist level of the ground worker 8 and to then elevate such box and discharge it onto the central frame section 1 at a comparable level relative to the worker 9; all to the end that loading of filled produce boxes onto the bed of the transport vehicle is greatly facilitated, with substantial reduction in the amount of requisite manual labor.

After use of the described box elevator, and when it is desired to transport it without projection on opposite sides of the vehicle, the elevator units 6 are detached from the central frame section 1 and placed adjacent the latter on the bed of the vehicle.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such as device as will substantially fulfill the objects of the invention, as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention the following is claimed as new and useful, and upon which Letters Patent are desired:

1. A box elevator, for a vehicle having a bed, comprising a frame section, means supporting the frame section on the bed, one portion of the supported frame section being disposed adjacent an edge of the bed, a box elevator unit disposed in a position outwardly of such edge and extending from below to above the bed, and means attaching the box elevator unit to said portion of the frame section; the box elevator unit including an upstanding frame section, a driven endless chain assembly mounted in the upstanding frame section for travel in a vertical plane extending transversely of the bed, and a plurality of box receiving cradles pivotally suspended from the endless chain, assembly, the latter being operative to successively elevate the cradles from a box receiving point in a plane below the bed to a box removal point in a plane above the bed; the endless chain assembly including three endless chains spaced transversely of the upstanding frarne section and journaled for travel in vertically elongated rectangular paths of like pattern, the outside chains being alined crosswise of the upstanding frame section and the intermediate chain being offset inwardly and downwardly relative to the outside chains, and means interconnecting the three chains for movement in unison and at the same speed; the box receiving cradles spanning between the outside chains and each such cradle comprising upstanding end plates, the pivotal connections being adjacent the top of the end plates, foot plates projecting toward each other from the bottom of the end plates but substantially spaced at adjacent edges, a tie rod connected between the inner edges of the foot plates, and means turnably connecting the tie rod of each cradle to the intermediate chain.

2. A box elevator, as in claim 1, including a sprocket about which the intermediate chain is trained at the upper and inner corner of its path, a shaft having portions extending axially from opposite sides of said sprocket, and toothed wheels fixed on said shaft portions; the position and spacing of the toothed wheels 5 being such as to permit the same to relatively pass between the foot plates of each lowering cradle, while receiving a box from the latter; the toothed wheels then being operative to advance the box from the elevator unit onto the bed-supported frame section.

3. A box elevator comprising a horizontal frame section which includes elongated top beams spaced apart a distance less than the length of a box, a box elevating unit depending from one end of the horizontal frame section and including an upstanding "frame section rigid with the horizontal frame section, a driven endless elevator chain assembly mounted in the upstanding frame section operative to elevate a box from a plane below the bed to a box-removal point at a level above that of said top beams; the assembly including three endless chains spaced transversely of the upstanding frame section and supported for travel in vertically elongated rectangular paths of like pattern, the outside chains being alined crosswise of the upstanding frame section and spaced apart a distance less than the length of a box, and the intermediate chain being offset inwardly and downwardly relative to the outside chains, all the chains including top-run portions and the top run portion of the intermediate chain being at a level a relatively short distance above that of the top beams, means interconnecting the three chains for movement in unison and at the same speed, box receiving cradles disposed between the outside chains and including box-supporting bottom plates, and means pivotally connecting the cradles at the top to the outside chains and at the bottom and inner end to the intermediate chain so that the bottom plates of the cradle will remain horizontal as the cradle is moved with the chains; the bottom plates being spaced apart to avoid the intermediate chain whereby as the cradle travels downwardly after moving along the top-run portions of the chains and the bottom plates move below the top-run portion of the intermediate chain, the bottom of a box on the cradle will be engaged and supported by the last named top-run portion and the box will be moved horizontally thereby onto the top beams of the horizontal frame section.

4. An elevator, as in claim 3, with driven friction wheels journaled on the horizontal frame section adjacent said one end thereof and projecting above the top beams thereof in position to engage the bottom of the box as it moves onto said top beams and being driven in a direction to further advance the box along said beams.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 952,954 Shipley Mar. 22, 1910 1,460,762 Miller July 3, 1923 1,461,638 lVells et al July 10, 1923 1,969,122 De Witt Aug. 7, 1934 2,012,549 Rottersmann Aug. 27, 1935 2,360,146 Lima Oct. 10, 1944 2,665,021 Wight Ian. 5, 1954 2,808,947 Shippy Oct. 8, 1957 2,996,201 Neher Aug. 15, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,073,162 France Mar. 17, 1954 

3. A BOX ELEVATOR COMPRISING A HORIZONTAL FRAME SECTION WHICH INCLUDES ELONGATED TOP BEAMS SPACED APART A DISTANCE LESS THAN THE LENGTH OF A BOX, A BOX ELEVATING UNIT DEPENDING FROM ONE END OF THE HORIZONTAL FRAME SECTION AND INCLUDING AN UPSTANDING FRAME SECTION RIGID WITH THE HORIZONTAL FRAME SECTION, A DRIVEN ENDLESS ELEVATOR CHAIN ASSEMBLY MOUNTED IN THE UPSTANDING FRAME SECTION OPERATIVE TO ELEVATE A BOX FROM A PLANE BELOW THE BED TO A BOX-REMOVAL POINT AT A LEVEL ABOVE THAT OF SAID TOP BEAMS; THE ASSEMBLY INCLUDING THREE ENDLESS CHAINS SPACED TRANSVERSELY OF THE UPSTANDING FRAME SECTION AND SUPPORTED FOR TRAVEL IN VERTICALLY ELONGATED RECTANGULAR PATHS OF LIKE PATTERN, THE OUTSIDE CHAINS BEING ALINED CROSSWISE OF THE UPSTANDING FRAME SECTION AND SPACED APART A DISTANCE LESS THAN THE LENGTH OF A BOX, AND THE INTERMEDIATE CHAIN BEING OFFSET INWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY RELATIVE TO THE OUTSIDE CHAINS, ALL THE CHAINS INCLUDING TOP-RUN PORTIONS AND THE TOP RUN PORTION OF THE INTERMEDIATE CHAIN BEING AT A LEVEL A RELATIVELY SHORT DISTANCE ABOVE THAT OF THE TOP BEAMS, MEANS INTERCONNECTING THE THREE CHAINS FOR MOVEMENT IN UNISON AND AT THE SAME SPEED, BOX RECEIVING CRADLES DISPOSED BETWEEN THE OUTSIDE CHAINS AND INCLUDING BOX-SUPPORTING BOTTOM PLATES, AND MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING THE CRADLES AT THE TOP TO THE OUTSIDE CHAINS AND AT THE BOTTOM AND INNER END TO THE INTERMEDIATE CHAIN SO THAT THE BOTTOM PLATES OF THE CRADLE WILL REMAIN HORIZONTAL AS THE CRADLE IS MOVED WITH THE CHAINS; THE BOTTOM PLATES BEING SPACED APART TO AVOID THE INTERMEDIATE CHAIN WHEREBY AS THE CRADLE TRAVELS DOWNWARDLY AFTER MOVING ALONG THE TOP-RUN PORTIONS OF THE CHAINS AND THE BOTTOM PLATES MOVE BELOW THE TOP-RUN PORTION OF THE INTERMEDIATE CHAIN, THE BOTTOM OF A BOX ON THE CRADLE WILL BE ENGAGED AND SUPPORTED BY THE LAST NAMED TOP-RUN PORTION AND THE BOX WILL BE MOVED HORIZONTALLY THEREBY ONTO THE TOP BEAMS OF THE HORIZONTAL FRAME SECTION.
 4. AN ELEVATOR, AS IN CLAIM 3, WITH DRIVEN FRICTION WHEELS JOURNALED ON THE HORIZONTAL FRAME SECTION ADJACENT SAID ONE END THEREOF AND PROJECTING ABOVE THE TOP BEAMS THEREOF IN POSITION TO ENGAGE THE BOTTOM OF THE BOX AS IT MOVES ONTO SAID TOP BEAMS AND BEING DRIVEN IN A DIRECTION TO FURTHER ADVANCE THE BOX ALONG SAID BEAMS. 